Flourish Excel is a source of bioavailable organic carbon. All plants require a source of carbon. This is typically obtained from CO2, but may also be derived from simple organic compounds (such as photosynthetic intermediates). Therefore, one can derive a substantial benefit with the use of Flourish Excel either alone or in conjunction with CO2 injection. Flourish Excel also has iron reducing properties which promote the ferrous state of iron (Fe+2), which is more easily utilized by plants than ferric iron (Fe+3). Flourish Excel is an integral component of Seachem"s plant products and is recommended for use with the entire Flourish line as well as our Flourite and Onyx Sand substrates. It contains no phosphate or nitrate.

DIRECTIONS: On initial use or after a major (&gt; 40%) water change, use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 40 L (10 gallons*). Thereafter use 1 capful for every 200 L (50 gallons*) daily or every other day. Dosing may be slowly increased in high-growth aquariums. For smaller dosing please note that each cap thread is approximately 1 mL.

A plant dosing chart is available in PDF from on Seachem"s website.

FAQ from Seachem

Q:Love your plant products and am using all five of them. I do have a rather interesting question for you concerning these products and Hair Algae. When I first dosed my tank with all the Flourish products I was experienceing quite a bit of hair alage. (125gal plants/fish) Within three days the hair algae had turned a reddish orange and about four days after that it had completely disappeared. Do you have any idea just which of these products could have caused this? (Flourish-Trace-Excel-Fe- Potassium?) I would be most interested in the answer as I again have a small algae problem and would like to know if I am perhaps using too much/little of any one thing. I must admit that I have never seen such a dramatic change with the algae when I first used the Flourish products, and I would really like to be able to repeat the experience when ever the algae re-appears. The plants themselves are doing quite well and I have some of them growing out of the tank.Please let me know about this.A: This is a known side effect of Flourish Excel that may sometimes occur. It has been reported to us by other consumers, however it does not occur under all conditions therefore we do not promote it or sell it for that purpose.

Q: I have a AP Bio-Chem Zorb pouch in my filtration system. Will it scavange the organic component of Flourish Excel?A: Chemical filtration medias will have a very minimal impact on Flourish Excel but not enough to warrant removing them from your filter when you dose this product.

Q: Is it better to add Flourish Excel at night or in the morning based upon plant carbon uptake physiology?A: Carbon intake is a function of photosynthesis. Based on this, it would be ideal to dose Flourish Excel during the day. But given that Flourish Excel can stay complexed as a carbon source for up to 24 hours before it dissipates, you can dose at any time of the day and the product will be available for the next 24 hours. Flourish Excel is not carbon dioxide and there is no impact on pH using Flourish Excel.

Q: I read in a plant book by Pablo Tepoot about a product by you called Health Guard. Is it safe to use with plants &amp; fish to control algae. Could you help me in find somthing that works.A: There is a comparable product to Health Guard in our freshwater planted line called Flourish Excel. Like Health Guard, this product is not sold as an algaecide.

Q: Is Flourish Excel a replacement for CO2 in a planted aquarium?A: Yes and no. It provides the same benefit as CO2, i.e. it provides the plants with a source of carbon for growth just as CO2 provides them with carbon. However CO2 by itself will give you quantitatively more growth than Excel by itself, although Excel does provide a substantial amount in comparison. If CO2 is a 10, Excel is a 6-7. Using both together provides additional benefit. One of the advantages of the Excel is no up front equipment costs and complexity of valves, hoses and regulators, etc.

Q: Will an airstone or surface agitation decrease the effectiveness of Excel as it would decrease the effectiveness of CO2 injection? What effect would an airstone/agitation have on Excel"s effective CO2 levels?A: An air stone or other surface agitation will not impact the effectiveness of Flourish Excel. Flourish Excel is not CO2, it is simply a readily available source of carbon. This is an intermediate source and more readily available than CO2 and will not interfere with the uptake of CO2 as a carbon source.

Q: I"ve been using Flourish Excel for the 4 days, and I"ve noticed that my Anacharis seems to be dying, while my other plants are doing fine. Why is this?A: Anacharis is a particularly sensitive species (known to be sensitive to high temperature, trace copper, formaldehyde etc.). It is also sensitive to Flourish Excel. If you have Anacharis in an aquarium in which you are dosing Flourish Excel we recommend using Flourish Excel every other day rathter than daily.

Q: Is Flourish Excel safe for fish?A: Yes, when used as directed, Flourish Excel is completely safe for fish.